DISTRICT: Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Lead Instructor, 8.0 hrs/day, starting ASAP

Traverse City Area Public Schools•Traverse City, MI

14h

About The Position

This is a lead instructor position that will spend part of the 2025/26 school year at Silver Lake Elementary School (until end of November 2025/Early December 2025) and the other part of the year at Blair Elementary School (approximately January 2026 until end of May 2026). Non-Affiliated Support Staff (NA) Non-Affiliated Support - Position Information (school year) Non-Affiliated Support Benefits Summary (school year) Full-time, school year position General Summary: The GSRP Lead Instructor will plan, organize, and manage the GSRP and reports directly to the District Childcare Director. The GSRP Lead Instructor also works collaboratively with kindergarten teachers and the North Ed Early Childhood Consultant to support district early childhood education initiatives. Program will run approximately 172 days during the school year. Supervision Exercised: The GSRP Lead Instructor is responsible for supervising the assistant teachers and volunteers in the classroom.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Development with a specialization in preschool teaching.
A sincere commitment to Early Childhood Education.
The ability to maintain professional confidentiality.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
A demonstrated ability to interact positively with parents and children in a non-judgmental way.
The ability to devise innovative approaches to classroom related challenges.
The ability to work openly and cooperatively in a team effort approach.
The willingness to seek further training and education.
The ability to perform physical tasks required to implement a preschool program.

Nice To Haves

Work experience in the field preferred, with skills in classroom management, curriculum planning, and supervision.

Responsibilities

Program Planning and Implementation
Familiarize self with goals and objectives of the program plan, taking special note of those procedures and strategies designated as Lead Instructor responsibilities.
Create a developmentally appropriate classroom setting for children.
Provide a safe and healthy environment for children.
Plan and implement daily program following curriculum guidelines.
Plan and implement parent/child focused home visits and parent teacher conferences as required by the Program Plan: 1) individualize for child and parent; 2) support the parent as the primary educator; and 3) organize to educate parents about their child’s developmental growth and how and why to foster it.
Conduct ongoing child assessment activities: 1) maintain a portfolio on each child and 2) develop an individualized curriculum based on the review of portfolios and other child/family information.
Plan appropriate activities for transitioning families into kindergarten.
Communicate positively with children in verbal and non-verbal interactions.
Adhere to all TCAPS and GSRP guidelines and procedures.
Serve as building Program Director.
Facilitating Parent Involvement
Conduct a Parent Orientation.
Provide a parent area in the classroom, i.e.: bulletin board or parent corner.
Coordinate and encourage parent involvement by helping parents to feel comfortable and needed in the classroom.
Actively seek parent involvement in curriculum planning.
Participate in scheduled parent activities: 1) attend parent meetings keeping parents apprised of program activities and providing parent education as outlined in Program Plan and 2) assist in facilitation of ongoing trainings as appropriate to meet their needs and interests.
Prepare periodic informational and educational parent newsletters.
Facilitate parent use of community and library resources.
Record Keeping
Compile and update appropriate individual assessments on each child utilizing the developmental assessment tools and other portfolio collection materials.
Reflect the individual child’s growth on the Early Childhood Progress Report (which consists of development of the assessment and transitioning comment.)
Complete appropriate documents related to the transfer of records.
Complete necessary documents related to licensing.
Personal/Professional Relations
Identify training and professional needs; participate in growth opportunities to improve skills and professional competencies.
Familiarize self with licensing regulations.
Function as a “team” member delegating tasks appropriately to complete program responsibilities.
Maintain a professional, helping relationship with families.
Treat all family information in a confidential, sensitive, and non-judgmental manner.
Form partnerships with other community and agency professionals to coordinate programming.
Provide necessary guidance and supervision of staff and volunteers.
Keep supervisor well informed.
Meet as required with supervisor for evaluation of job performance.
Other
Attend building staff meetings, as appropriate.
Participate in building and district meetings as requested.
Other duties as required.